Seventeen Boston-area musicians represented in the city’s Dear Summer Vol. 3 mixtape

Celina Colby

Celina Colby is an arts and travel reporter with a fondness for Russian novels.... VIEW BIO

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Never fear, Boston, we live to jam another year. The City of Boston has released “Dear Summer Vol. 3,” the latest edition of the city-curated mixtape featuring songs from 17 local musicians mixed by 6 local DJs. It’s the soundtrack to summer in the city, representing artists from neighborhoods across Boston and beyond.

The mixtape features all kinds of music, from soul, hip-hop and Latin beats to the croons of country, pop and R&B. There are two artists from outside Boston (Brockton and Lowell) represented on the tape.

This is the third year of the project and on every album new local artists take the spotlight.  This year’s playlist includes Aniyé Music, Cousin Stizz, Divine Sweater, Dutch ReBelle, EXITFAME, Kyle Ray, Leia, Lauren Jean, Lisa Bello, ODIO, PVRIS, ZAMA, RIJAH, Soap.Wav, SVMBV, Tamera King and Yanna G.

The DJs mixing the tape include DJ Cha, DJ Lysse, Brat Attack, SuperSmashBroz, ProSwervez and Towfu.

For many Boston artists, this is a long-awaited recognition of their talents.

“Through my music, I share the harsh realities of poverty and the consequences of bad choices,” said EXITFAME, a hip-hop artist based in Roxbury. “But I also highlight the comeback—the transformation—and what God can do in the life of someone who starts from the bottom. This is more than music, it’s a testimony.”

John Borders IV, Mixtape co-executive producer and the city’s director of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, worked with Chimel “ReaL P” Idiokitas, co-executive producer and curator of “Dear Summer Vol. 3” Mixtape to scout talent and assemble the lineup for the summer 2025 tape.

The music isn’t the only thing to look forward to on this mixtape. Expect 15 cameos from famous Bostonians ranging from Mayor Michelle Wu to congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Imari Paris Jeffries of Embrace Boston, Callie Crossley from GBH and many more. These city shout-outs add to the hyperlocal feel of the tape. 

Listen to the full mix for free on SoundCloud or hear the playlist of local artists on Spotify or Apple Music. Both previous mixes are available on all platforms as well.

“We are proud and grateful that incredible talent calls Boston home, and that these amazing artists and creatives create space for community and culture building all year long,” said Wu. “As we continue to make our way through summer, we hope that this mixtape taps into the joy and community present throughout Boston’s communities.”